Cedar Rapids
Insurance man Tim Lippe (Ed Helms) from Brown Valley Wisconsin has a paradigm shift when he’s sent to Cedar Rapids to represent his company at an annual insurance convention. You see, Tim is practically a man-child, he’s never really been out of Brown Valley, never flown on a plane, never really gotten loose. Now at the convention Tim has specific instructions on how to win the coveted Two Diamonds award for his company. But, when a group of unlikely convention regulars (John C. Reilly, Anne Heche, and Isiah Whitlock Jr.) take him under their wings, hopes of the award start to slip away, or do they? And what’s the bigger lesson for Tim?
Highly improvised comedy that consistently hits the mark time and time again makes for a smart and entertaining watch; a feel that also lends to characters with genuine heart and something we can all identify with. Director Miguel Arteta has carefully crafted a film based on authentically flawed individuals that ultimately gives us the bitter and the sweet, a handful of emotions that make us human. One of the funniest films I’ve seen in a long time and worth your time. Cedar Rapids is rated R.
I recently got the chance to sit down with Director Miguel Arteta to discuss the making of this film. Among the many things we discussed we talked a great deal about improv acting and directing, a real treat. Here’s a clip of that interview:Miguel Arteta Interview Segment 1
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